Nearly one in three children and adolescents is overweight and in the last 20 years the number of obese children has doubled. The Medical Center Health & Wellness Center is working with local pediatricians to combat childhood obesity with the Overweight Children Physician Referral Program. This new program enables physicians to help children who need assistance with weight management through exercise and healthy nutrition by referring them to the Health & Wellness Center for nutritional counseling, the Walking Program, and The Medical Center Healthy Kids Club.
“The American Academy of Pediatrics has deemed childhood obesity our number one issue,” says Debra Sowell, M.D., a pediatrician with Graves-Gilbert Clinic. “Locally, we would like to model a program that has been successful in other areas of the state.”
Children prescribed nutritional counseling and their parents meet with a registered dietitian one-on-one to discuss a healthy and well-balanced eating plan. The dietitian also provides ongoing support for the children. The Walking Program promotes exercise and keeping children active. Children will walk on set days and times at the mall and will be encouraged to walk at other times at local parks or in their neighborhood. They will log their miles and receive monthly incentives. Annually, all participants will be entered into a drawing for a bike. The Healthy Kids Club is a membership program that supports children making healthy choices by promoting physical activity, healthy eating, safety and wellness.
"The Medical Center Health & Wellness Center is pleased to offer the newly formed Overweight Children Physician Referral Program. Our goal is to help one child at a time learn to make healthy lifestyle choices and to have the best health possible for a lifetime," said Linda Rush, Director of the Center.
The Medical Center Health & Wellness Center is located at Greenwood Mall. For more information, call (270) 745- 0942 or (877) 800-3824.
